7.0 Monitoring equipment

7.1 Monitoring equipment suitable for the radiation source in use must be readily available during any operation involving ionising radiations, eg to check for contamination.

7.2 Each time that a monitor is used, the state of the batteries must be checked, and the probe of the monitor presented to a radioactive test-source to check that the monitor is operating correctly. Suitable check-sources are outlined below:

Beta-monitors
Sources consisting of polymethyl-methacrylate sheet doped with 14C have been prepared, and one is stored with each monitor.

Scintillation counters
The probe should be exposed to a sample of the radiation to be tested for.

Other monitors (alpha, Geiger etc)
A suitable, readily-available source should be used as a check. The Radiation Protection Service should be consulted about the choice of such a source.